"And it fell upon them like a wave which, swollen by the storm-winds beneath the lowering clouds, bursts furiously over a hurrying ship. And the ship is all lost in foam, and the terrifying blast roars in the sail, and the souls of the crew are seized with a fearful shuddering, for barely can they slip out from under the clutch of death" (Homer, trans. T.S.Dorsch)

A terminal box for a telegraph. I'm not sure what the specific reason for the photo is; is this the last one in operation?

But two thoughts:

As far as I can tell, Western Union's only reason for continued existence is cash transfers used for nefarious purposes.

And:

There's something very sad about seeing the decrepit ruins of older technology. I'm faced with looking at it every day in our shop, ancient radio gear and test equipment. I can't help but think about the lives spent developing that technology, that now lies in a heap. It's like walking past a mausoleum -- but it's more personal than that. There's a little part of that person's creativity and personality, their soul (if an atheist can be so crass as to use that word) in that piece of discarded equipment.

Reminders of our own impending obsolescence and death. That's some cheerful stuff. You know what? I'm going to mix up some Patron margeritas. Althouse, you're contributing to my alcoholism.

you all give it up. I got it right earlier...and to add to it, the building in question is not far from the photo that was on the front page of the Indianapolis Star - the next one in her flicker album...in fact I think it is the next corner building south of the suites hotel, east facing facade.

AST said...Is that wall in the photo on on the cover of the newspaper?"

that's what i think/thought. if you google the hotel in the indy-star picture there is a red brick building down at the corner and the east facade looks like it might have those windows...there is another 2 blocks further but I can't make out any detail.

fsl...click on the picture that is associated with the thread. it will take you to Ann's flicker account. the picture that she posts next is of the Indy-star in a newspaper bontainer/dispenser...the cover of that has harley's in the picture. if you google the "GTE" which is what is on the side of the wall on the cover of the phone connector and indianapolis you getGTE_Indianpolis. http://www.assfaultjunkies.com/member.php?594-GTE_Indiana&s=4c956a006d9e8639ad6be7dd3d8c1a85

It makes perfect sense that Meade and Ann talked to a biker who gave them that URL and Ann took a picture of the GTE box (on the red wall)...because that is the guy's handle.

for the 3rd time (this is the 3rd time i've solved this riddle and posted what i think is the answer)

I missed the earlier hdhouse post. After going to googlemaps he must be correct -- the picture is of the side wall of Krieg Religious Goods, down Meridian from the Star's photograph POV, and there is a parking lot across the alley.

This photo is racist. It is not of MLK, and didn't you know he gave an incredibly important speech some years ago on this day? Really, you shouldn't even be driving. Disgusting, but expected from the wingnuts of Meadehouse. You may as well have joined the Klan.

Heh. See, that's charity in action. Now certain trolls can relax and enjoy the evening. Their work is done.

Freeman -- wouldn't you expect people who named themselves after the patriot rebels who dumped tea into Boston Harbor, and who carry the Don't Tread on Me flag of New Hampshire to be intimately familiar with American history?

And wouldn't you expect that if you choose the symbolic site of the National Mall -- freighted with historical resonances -- for your rally, that your choice of place and date might already resonate with other Americans?

For future reference, Beck should check a site like this:http://www.brainyhistory.com/link/index.html

Oh please. Nobody cared what day he gave the speech. Its only an issue because you guys want it to be. All of a sudden, the day is sacrosanct.

wouldn't you expect that if you choose the symbolic site of the National Mall -- freighted with historical resonances -- for your rally, that your choice of place and date might already resonate with other Americans?

No, but then I dont regard blacks as an uncivilized tribe of sub-humans who will riot at the slightest offense.

The Left is still trying to stir up racial bullshit by November. Its all they've got.

Hey IronRails, did you mean shaved or well manicured?A fine distinction for sure, but one that's vitally important to those who know the difference.

Manicuring is as dead as the dinosaurs. Almost all women today are completely, totally, absolutely hairless.Factoid: now that hair removal is universal, the next new thing among women is to bleach the brownish skin surrounding the Tradesmen's Entrance.

OK, I downloaded the photo at its original resolution and the box says "W.U.Tel.CO" not GTE, so T J seems to be first and closest so far. Not having loitered here as long as some, the more ignorant I, I didn't know what T J meant about "Western Union post coming on." Does Ann post about Western Union, or does TJ?

I "binged" Althouse Western Union and got one link she posted here to a thumbsucker, I mean a feature article, in the NYTimes about the history of telegrams.

Another linked to this post: http://althouse.blogspot.com/2009/08/amazon-wtf.html about Tuscan Whole Milk on Amazon and the customer images which included cow udders (tits), so I claim partial credit.

Another post from June 10, 2008 is about

The other "hits" were to stories in the Times which mentioned Western Union and had some kind of transient ad to an op-ed in which "Ann Althouse and Byron York debate whether misogyny is to blame for ..." No joy.

I followed the link to GTE-Indiana at assfault junkies, but I couldn't see how that tied into the blank wall with the pipe on it leading to a Western Union box which may be a "Thomasson."

In sum, I still don't know what any of this has to do with the original photo. That's the last time I drink Five Hour Energy on a Saturday, unless I'm driving.

Maybe the box needed to be placed thus for its use inside the building, and the end of the wire had to be placed thus to meet a main wire, or maybe I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.

You are probably correct. It appears to be an old building and who knows what kind of interior renovations have taken place requiring all sorts of technological contortions to accommodate the current occupant.

Turn of the 20th century commercial/residential building across the way has a multitude of vertical and horizontal wiring coming out from all sorts of opening and running into a conduit box.

'You are probably correct. It appears to be an old building and who knows what kind of interior renovations have taken place requiring all sorts of technological contortions to accommodate the current occupant.'

There's still something to be said about a door being removed, but I can't really see a break in the brick pattern, but there does seem to be excess mortar aroung part of the top edge and right side (where the door might have been.

This is so funny how we are all discussing this in depth. It was when Chip said paint sample that I said this is like a Rorhschact test. How we see it indicates our personalities, to a degree.

"This reminds me of a story about a class where the teacher tells the student to describe something and makes him keep at it for weeks, until he learns to really observe."

AST,

Perhaps your story is from Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanance? To help his student overcome her writing block, he directs her focus to to a building, a side of the building, and eventually the bottom left brick in that side of the building: "write on that, then move on to the next brick." (Or something like that -- my memory is sketchy)

Supposing that you read it there, I'd love to hear what you thought of the book. I did read Lila years later, but it did not impress me as much.